Always having our finger on the pulse when it comes to skincare, we regularly hear about bizarre home remedies to problem skin situations and the latest is one for wart removal.

Apparently placing a piece of duct tape over the wart – changing, cleaning, and filing away dead skin every three days – kills off the wart and makes it disappear in about two months. MSN believe that it’s the chemicals on the sticky side of the duct tape that suffocate the wart and get rid of it for good.

We personally have never tried it, it may work, it might not. Of course with Summer just around the corner, the last thing you want is to have a grey piece of ugly duct tape wrapped around your foot – it really doesn’t go with those jewelled gladiator sandals!

Plus, two months is a long time to wear the tape and we bet that a more discreet method of wart removal treatment might be more up everyone’s street. There are plenty of over the counter remedies available that freeze the wart, however again these can be prolonged and quite uncomfortable.

Natural wart removal treatment can be much more reliable and the average person only requires two or three treatments. What’s more, if you have multiple warts, for example some on your hands and others on your feet, only one wart need be treated, yet all the warts are likely to disappear. Then within two months, the warts change colour and gradually disappear.

You should find the treatment quite tolerable. But we won’t lie, when the pulse of light is emitted there is a sharp sensation of a hot pinprick which quickly subsides, however most people find that this treatment is very quick and less unpleasant and traumatic than alternative treatments. Another benefit is that as the skin is not broken during the treatment, there is no risk of infection, scabbing or scarring.

SkinGenesis provides wart removal treatment for just £249 – that’s the cost of a few haircuts!

It’s almost Halloween and we are raising awareness of the prevalence of skin warts – not just on the chins of those dressing up as witches!

Warts are small, harmless benign tumours of the skin caused by the human papilloma virus, affecting thousands of people year-round with few treatments delivering a lasting effect.

With a scary ability to spread and manifest anywhere on the body, warts more commonly appear on highly visible areas such as the face, hands and feet.

Specialist treatments like VPL(variable pulsed light) therapy have been developed as powerful, new-generation wart removal techniques, effective after just several treatments. Lotions and potions bought over the counter can either be risky or have a minimal effect.

Peter Beard, skin expert and director at SkinGenesis, said: “Warts are commonly associated with witches and Halloween, so October is the perfect chance to raise awareness of them and show what can be done to treat warts once and for all.

“There are plenty of concoctions and creams out there that claim to freeze your warts, however they can often return and people end up back to where they started. VPL literally gets to the core of the problem and after just a couple of treatments, people can walk away with smooth skin and much more confidence.”

Wart removal treatment costs a single fixed price of £225, regardless of how many treatments are needed.

As if by magic, after just several VPL treatments, the whole body can be wart-free in a matter of weeks by targeting only one or two growths, regardless of how many others you may have.

Topical products containing salicylic acid must be used with caution as they can damage the surrounding skin. A doctor may alternatively freeze warts using liquid nitrogen or surgical methods, which can both result in scarring.

Common warts typically appear on the hands and are grey or flesh coloured and have a raised structure. Plantar warts are harder to treat as they grow into the skin appearing on the soles of the feet, whilst flat warts often grow on the face and hands and can spread rapidly.

VPL wart removal treatment eradicates warts quickly and safely with no risk of secondary infection. It works by delivering a high energy thermal shock deep inside the wart causing the casing to break. This in turn causes the body’s immune system to respond by creating antibodies that will have an antiviral effect on warts all over the body.

Don’t be mistaken for a witch this Halloween – to find out more visit www.skingenesis.co.uk and book your free consultation.

We’re all aware of the fantastic anti-ageing properties of Botox, but recent articles and research suggest that it could be much more of wonder drug than we initially thought!

We wrote a blog post last year detailing how Sharon Stone risked losing custody of her son because she wanted to inject his feet with Botox to stop them smelling. We don’t really know whether Botox actually works on foot odour, however it was one of the first in a string of other possible uses for this popular anti-ageing product.

In fact rumour has it that a Canadian doctor stumbled across the drug’s face-lifting qualities by accident while treating a patient for a muscle spasm in the eye. The patient then asked to continue receiving treatments because of its fantastic anti-ageing ability!

However, before you go rushing out and having Botox injections in the hope it will cure all your complaints, you MUST MUST MUST have Botox administered by a reputable practitioner who has lots of experience. All cosmetic treatments carry risks and unless done properly, Botox is no exception.

Do your research, because there are many therapists out there who have limited experience – people can now go on a one-day Botox course and be qualified!

Are these fashion gurus out of their minds? The first thing we thought of when we heard about it is ‘what about the stubble and regrowth?!’ That surely would NOT be a good look?

If you do find that you simply cannot control yourself and you do decide to follow trend this season coming, do not fear for when the fad fades, as semi-permanent make upcan give you back your brows in no time.

Using precision and a steady hand, semi-permanent make-up artists are as skilled as tattooists – which is just as well when it comes to your face! If you shave your brows or find they’re getting a bit thin on the ground, semi permanent make up micropigmentation can give you fuller brows that frame your face.

We would strongly advise against the bald eye look – we think it looks a bit strange – perhaps bleaching could work instead… or here’s an idea: leave them alone!

Every month there seems to be new research from skin boffins telling us of a revolutionary new way to relieve acne. In the past these miracle cures have manifested in the form of green tea bags, Frutels chocolate, and now Kangen water.

Kangen, Japanese for ‘return to origin’, has gained fame in Asia and the USA with claims that the PH level of the water produced by their alkaline water ionizers is highly beneficial for those of us plagued by unsightly spots.

Kangen filters to date will set you back around $4000, and so are definitely unlikely to feature in many of our current budgets. The latest in a long line of pseudo-science based treatments that will only succeed in relieving you of a large amount of your hard earned cash, the benefits of Kangen water have already been discredited by many leading researchers, not to mention whole websites dedicated to the financial side of the ‘Kangen’ scam.

Rather than be ripped off by some far-fetched and unproven water filter, why not consider intense pulsed light treatment (IPL), microdermabrasionor a chemical peel, all shown to have worked wonders on spots and acne breakouts. What’s more, SkinGenesis will work with you individually to create a programme specifically for you and your own skin requirements.

Natural acne treatments fuel healthy skin renewal and help prevent future occurrences. You will also be given powerful acne treatment products for use at your own convenience at home, designed to work alongside and boost the clinic skinacne treatment so you get the best sustainable result in the shortest possible time.

News emerging from China about ‘superhuman’ candidates wanted for the country’s space programme details how applicants are now required to have no scars, allergies, runny noses or even halitosis!

Whilst unfortunately we cannot provide any solutions to the latter problems (although if possible stay away from cats, keep a pack of Kleenex to hand, and use Listerine regularly), scar removal can be performed by the therapists at SkinGenesis.

At risk of bleeding during acceleration according to officials at one of the astronaut health-screening hospitals, and also more of an aesthetic issue if like me you’re not currently considering a career in aeronautics, scars have long been believed to be there for life.

However SkinGenesis treatments have been shown to relieve the appearance of imperfections on the skin, including scars.

The secret to re-training the skin to be smooth and flawless again lies in the powerful and safe combination of scar removal treatments. These are used to stimulate the skin to become plumper and more elastic, whilst also tackling the memory of the scar in the shrunken connective tissue between the surface of your skin and the deep layers.

So if you really are keen on applying for the Chinese space programme or just curious to hear about the scar removal treatments on offer why not visit www.skingenesis.co.ukfor more information?

Waking up late and running out of the house with no make-up on can be a thing of the past thanks to micropigmentation!

What if you no longer had to get up half an hour early on a morning to put on your make up before you leave the house? What if you could go on holiday and sunbathe without wondering whether your make up has smudged in the heat? And what if you could go on a night out with the girls knowing that you looked fabulous all night, even at 3am whilst you’re queuing for a taxi?!

Well now you can.

Semi-permanent make-upprovides a way to enhance your image and look gorgeous, 24 hours a day – that’s right, even when you’re sleeping!

You can now permanently wear eyeliner, lipstick and even have fuller-looking eyebrows or eyelashes in one simple treatment. Just think about how much money you spend on make up a month, and how much time and effort you spend each morning applying it.

Guide prices are as follows, and all include a second application after 3 months.

Brows from £360

Eye treatments from £370

Lip treatments from £425

Refresher treatments/upkeep are just £200*

Perfect for short eyebrows, thin stumpy eyelashes and thin, ageing lips… Tell us what you think about semi-permanent make-up!

*Prices refer to those charged at SkinGenesis only. Other clinics will vary.

Scars serve no more purpose than to remind you of the trauma you suffered in receiving the ugly skin blemish in the first place, so if someone was to offer you a scar removal treatment in the form of a new drug, would you take it?

The University of Manchester started the development of a new wonder drug that lessens the appearance of scars, and now a company called Renovo has taken over its development. However scar removal treatments that stimulate natural responses in your skin can be far more effective than any medical treatments.

In the clinical trials of the new drug, volunteers were given a small incision of 1cm, then injected with the new drug at one end of the scar, and with a placebo drug at the other end. Although the drug did appear to reduce the appearance and severity of the scar, it remained visible. Another drawback is that the trials were conducted in a controlled environment, whereas in reality, scars could be a lot more severe, meaning the drug might not work so well.

Microdermabrasion, Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) and regenerative skin peels can work miracles on scar tissue. No need for new drugs that you may be apprehensive about using, these treatments are completely natural and stimulate your skin to produce effects it normally would do, just much faster!

Scarring can cause unnecessary upset, lack of confidence and can affect anyone of any age. Whether it’s acne scar treatment, or traditional scars caused by falls or injuries, scar removal treatment works on most types of scar.

Thread veins are extremely common and can often cause people lots of upset and discontentment with their skin. Thread vein removal is fast increasing in popularity and with today’s advanced treatments, thread veins can be a thing of the past.

Thread veins are common amongst people who have had jobs in the outdoors, or those who might take part in a great deal of outdoor activities, but you needn’t let your vanity stop you from enjoying your job or hobbies.

Often referred to as ‘spider vein treatment’, we use cutting edge IPL treatments, using technology that is more powerful than most laser treatments. Whats more, it is kinder to your skin too, reducing any risks. In fact, risks are so minimal you won’t even be left with any bruising, as most people expect.

IPL works by encouraging natural processes in the skin to act and gradually, over a course of treatments, the thread veins disappear – a little bit like how a regular bruise would disappear.

Speaking of SPIDER veins… take a look at this YouTube video – a world record of having the most spiders on the body for 30 seconds!!

To find out more about thread vein removal, call one of our clinics in Leeds, Manchester or Chester.